Structural analysis of NiO—Fe2O3 catalyst for vaporphase oxidation of benzoic acid to phenol

Abstract NiO-Fe 2 O 3 catalyst with an atomic ratio of nickel to iron of one was found to show excellent activity for vapor-phase oxidation of benzoic acid to phenol. The homogeneous distribution profile of NiO and NiFe 2 O 4 on the surface and in the bulk of the catalyst is essential for the formation of phenol.